Strojniki vestnik - Journal of Mechanical Engineering 55(2009)6, 406-417

UDC 621.9

Paper received: 06.04.2009

Paper accepted: 08.07.2009

STEP-NC: A New Programming Code for the CNC Machines

1

Primoz Kri1 - Antun Stoic2 - Janez Kopa1

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Slovenia
2
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Croatia

The paper deals with the newest advances in standardization of manufacturing data management.
The overview of previous work and projects and the latest developments on introducing the ISO 10303238 and ISO 14649 standards is presented. The advantages of the new data models are shown and the
plans on future work are presented.
2009 Journal of Mechanical Engineering. All rights reserved.
Keywords:mnufacturing machines, CNC programming, ISO standardsg
0 INTRODUCTION
Ever since a CNC machine appeared on
the market people have followed a dream of
automatically manufacturing products. In the last
50 years CNC machines have evolved from
simple, perforated paper belt controlled machines
to todays high-end machines controlled by
multiprocessor workstations. These modern
controls are able to control very complex
processes like 5-axis toolpaths, multitasking
machines etc. Apart from this another big leap
has happened. The CAD, CAPP and CAM
software vendors realized that they need to have a
standardized and open format to transfer
information in the process of product and
manufacturing planning.
Even though the CNC machines evolved
substantially, the language to program them has
not. Most of the CNC machines on this planet are
still controlled by using a G-code format of NC
program, which is standardized by an ISO 6983
from 1983.
During 1980s many different data formats
for geometry transfer were proposed (SET, VDA,
IGES) but none of them satisfied all the needs of
software developers and users [4]. In the mid
1980s the international community started to
develop the ISO 10303 group of standards which
are today known under the name STEP. This
standard is today widely recognized and accepted
as de facto standard for geometry data transfer in
the process of product design and manufacturing.
The specification is open for all users and the
format is alive, which means that it is adapting to
new ascertaining of the field of CAD model data
transfer.
In the field of CNC data transfer similar
work started in the mid 1990s. Many different
*

406

institutions all over the world have contributed to

the development of a new standard to support
seamless integration of CAD, CAM and CNC
machines in the manufacturing process. The
result of this work is the adoption of a new
standard ISO 10303-238 in 2007.
1 CURRENT STATE IN THE FIELD OF CNC
PROGRAMMING
Fig. 1 shows the current state of
manufacturing data flow. Currently, most of CNC
machines are programmed by some dialect of the
NC language (ISO 6938). Programming with this
language brings some advantages and many
disadvantages.
Advantages are [7]:
- the language is very simple, easy to learn and
understand,
- it is widespread and used all over the world.
With its simplicity it brings many
disadvantages [3]
- long NC programs for simple geometry
manufacturing,
- code is very unintuitive, most of them are
coded as one later and a number (like G01),
- it does not contain enough information about
the part, material and stock, so other type of
data must be used to transfer this important
information between CAD, CAM and CNC
machine,
- it is almost impossible to back feed the
information from CNC machine to the CAM
and CAD software,
- it is almost impossible to run two different
CNC machines by using the same NC
program,
- spline interpolation is poorly integrated,

Corr. Author's Address: University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering,

Akereva 6, 1000Ljubljana, Slovenia, primoz.krzic@gmail.com

Strojniki vestnik - Journal of Mechanical Engineering 55(2009)6, 406-417

Fig. 1. Current state of manufacturing data management [1]

-

poor support for kinematical features of 5axis

machines.
2 STEP FOR CNC MANUFACTURING
STEP-NC

A big advantage of STEP is its ability to

support many different application protocols
which can be used in wide range of applications.
By using the same file formats these application
protocols can easily be interchanged. The final
goal for the developers of STEP standard is that it
could support the entire lifecycle of a product.
STEP-NC is one of the application
protocols of the STEP standard. Its main goal is
to support the interchange of geometry and
technological data between CAD, CAM and CNC
controls.
3 MAIN FEATURES OF A STEP-NC
APPLICATION PROTOCOL (AP-238)
In STEP-NC data format (STEP AP-238)
the technological steps to manufacture a part are
defined as a sequence of material removing
operations. Each operation represents removing a
chunk of material of the regular geometric shape.
The standard supports all 2D geometric features
(holes, pockets, grooves) and also 3D geometry
(geometry confined by 3D surfaces). Each

removal operation adds its geometric features,

tolerances, type and size of a tool, etc. The main
advantage of the STEP-NC is that the data format
is independent from the type of machine and its
control (Fig. 2). This means that the use of
postprocessors will not be needed anymore and
that same program can be run on any kind of
machine and any kind of control [10].
The second important feature of STEP-NC
is that it allows companies to use their current
CAD, CAPP and CAM software without the need
of new investments in the software.
Main advantages of new data format are as
follows [10]:
- NC programming can be much more
efficient. The work of NC programmers will
change from
the precise setting of
parameters in CAM programs in order to get
the right toolpath to the ordering of material
removal operations and setting the right
technological parameters
- STEP-NC will provide enough data that the
control will be able to optimize the program
according to the situation of the tools in the
magazine
- The need for paper documents will be largely
reduced. It will also allow the instant change
of the 3D geometry directly on the control.
- All the data needed to produce the part will
be stored in a single file.

STEP-NC: A New Programming Code for the CNC Machines

407

Strojniki vestnik - Journal of Mechanical Engineering 55(2009)6, 406-417

Fig. 2. Manufacturing data management as proposed with STEP-NC [1]

4 HISTORY OF STEP-NC RESEARCH
STEP-NC has been evolving for several
years as the result of many research projects.
These projects funded by industrial companies
and state funded research institutions.
4.1 Project Optimal
The first project that started the path
towards an industrial standard was OPTIMAL
(Optimised Preparation of Manufacturing
Information with Multi-Level CAM-CNC
Coupling). This project was a part of ESPRIT 3
(Specific research and technological development
program (EEC) in the field of information
technologies, 1990-1994). It was founded by the
European Union.
4.2 Project STEP-NC (EP 29708)
The project OPTIMAL was succeeded by
the STEP-NC Compliant Data Interface for
Numerical Controls (STEP-NC). This was the
first pan-European project that resulted in first
real data models (for milling, lathe and EDM).
Each of the data model was tested in different
usage scenarios. Real parts were machined by
using STEP-NC data models. Partner companies
408

(Table 1) came from many European countries:

Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain, Sweden,
France, and Italy [9].
The data models were tested by four reallife scenarios: drilling and milling, free surface
milling, wood and glass machining and WEDM.
The main result of this project is the development
of software tools that show the capability of
proposed data models [9]:
- simulation and verification of STEP-NC
toolpaths (OpenMind)
- module for importing STEP-NC toolpaths
into the CAM program (Dassault)
- database for distribution of files between
different software tools (WZL)
4.3 Project Super Model
Super Model project was run from 1999 to
2002 by the company STEP Tools Inc, New
York, USA. It was financed by the National
Institute for Standardization (NIST) [4].
This project meant that American
companies also joined the path of new standard
development. Each year new features were
presented in a special presentation show. In the
last presentation software tools that enabled
manufacturing by using ISO 10303-238 data
model [4] were shown.

Kri, P. - Stoic, A. - Kopa, J.

Strojniki vestnik - Journal of Mechanical Engineering 55(2009)6, 406-417

Table2. Partners in the IMS 97006 project [9]

Partner Company

Task
Development of CNC controls

Agie (Switzerland)

Development of STEP-NC control for WEDM machines

CADCAMation (Italy)

Development of CAM module for WEDM machining

CMS (Italy)

Development of the protype STEP-NC supported machine for woodworking

Dassault (France)

Development of CAM module for 2,5D milling

Open Mind (Germany)

Development of CAM module for 2,5D milling

Osai (France)

Development of STEP-NC control for woodworking machines

Siemens (Germany)

Development of STEP-NC control 2,5D milling

Ral life testing

DeimlerChrysler
(Germany)

Milling and drilling on CNC machines

Volvo (Sweden)

Milling and drilling on CNC machines

Proghetti (Italy)

Milling CNC router machines

Wyss (Switzerland)

WEDM machining

EIG i-tech (Switzerland)

Development of software tools or WEDM

EPFL (Switzerland)

Development of software tools or WEDM

ISW Stuttgart (Germany)

Development of data model for lathe

WZL Aachen (Germany)

Development of data model for lathe and milling

Research institutions

This presentation also showed the conversion

from AP203 (STEP) to the AP238 (STEP-NC)
and milling of the part on a NC machine. CAD
model of the machined part is shown in the Fig. 3
[4].

4.4 Project IMS 97006 (Step-Compliant Data

Interface For Numeric Controls)
This project was running from 2001 to
2003 and was a major step forward because it
brought the unification of different partners that
were previously independently developing STEPNC standard. Partners from EU, USA, South
Korea and Switzerland were involved in this
project (Table 2) [12].
This unification of aspirations brought
harmonization of experiences from previous
projects. This harmonization resulted in two
different standards: ISO 10303-238 and ISO
14469 [12].
5 LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN STEP-NC
DATA MODEL RESEARCH

Fig. 3. Part was machined at the last presentation

of the Super Model project [4]

Even though STEP-NC is currently

supported as an active industrial standard it does
not mean that its development is finished. The
research is being done by several industrial and
academic institutions all over the world.

STEP-NC: A New Programming Code for the CNC Machines

409

Strojniki vestnik - Journal of Mechanical Engineering 55(2009)6, 406-417

Table2. Partners in the IMS 97006 project [4]

Geographical area

EU

Switzerland

Korea

End user

Daimler-Chrysler
Volvo, Franci

Dereninger, Wyss

CNC Machines producer

CMS

AGIE

NC Controls producer

Siemens, OSAI

CAM Software producer

OpenMind, Dassault CADCAMation

Cubictek

Research institution

WZL, ISW, KTH

EPFL, EIG i-tech

ERC-ACI,
NRL-SNT

Number of partners

11

5.1 Research in Germany

The majority of research work in Germany
is being dedicated to the development and
implementation of STEP compliant CAPP/CAM
software applications. The leading research
institutions are ISW in Stuttgart and WZL
Laboratory of the RWTH institute in Aachen. The
ISW laboratory has developed STEPTurn, which
is a prototype software application for
programming of turning applications using STEPNC data model. Its main advantage is the
automatic planning of the manufacturing steps
sequence. To achieve this the system uses two

Samsung

STEP Tools, Inc.

KIST,

types of priority pairs. The 0/1 pair represents a

distinct necessity to finish step 1 before
continuing to step 2. In this case step 1 has the
priority 1 and the step 2 has the priority 0. The
+/+ pair is used when it is not important which
activity is finished first. The use of this system to
achieve process plan is shown on the Fig. 4 [4]
The Werkzeugmaschinenlabor (WZL)
laboratory at the RWTH Aachen is mainly
researching STEP compliant NC controls and
CAM software (Fig. 5.). One of its products is
graphic user interface for working with STEP-NC
files [4].

Fig. 4. Process planning in the STEPTurn [4]

410

USA

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Strojniki vestnik - Journal of Mechanical Engineering 55(2009)6, 406-417

Fig. 5. Graphical user interface for working with STEP-NC files developed at WZL-RWTH Aachen[4]
5.2 Research in Switzerland

5.3 Research in USA

Switzerland is one of the leading countries

in STEP-NC research. Many companies and
research institutes have joined the process of
STEP-NC development: Starrag, AGIE, AMT,
CADCAMation, EIG i-tech, Derendinger, EPFL
and Wyss. Most of the work is devoted to STEPNC support for WEDM. The data model and the
compatible WEDM systems were developed (Fig.
6). SolidWorks was used for test part modeling.
The software module for STEP-NC support was
developed by AlphaCAM [4].

Research in the USA is led by three

different segments of industrial research [4]:
- government research institutions: NIST
(National Institute of Standards and
Technology)
- small privately owned companies: Step Tools
inc., New York, NY
- major corporations: Boeing, Seattle, WA
Research by the NIST:
NIST focuses mainly on the development
of the FBICS (Feature-Based Inspection and
Control System) computer system, which is
generally more focused to the CAPP field. The
connection between FBICS and STEP-NC is that
this programs final output is formatted by the
STEP-NC data model instructions (Fig. 7.).
Main tasks in the development of FBCIS
are [6]:
- demonstration of feature based environment
for product development and measuring,
- it is the test bed for dealing with issues in the
introduction of the feature based production to
the real working environment,
- it is a test of real life usability of STEP-NC
data model.
FBCIS is a computer program that
incorporates functions of the NC control,
functions for the process planning and modules
for machining simulation and measuring. The
entire program can be loaded directly to the CNC
machines control unit and can be used as a
standard control. Its main features are the
automatic creation of the machining procedure
and its realization on the machine [6].

Fig. 6. A diagram of prototype STEP-NC WEDM

[4]

STEP-NC: A New Programming Code for the CNC Machines

411

Strojniki vestnik - Journal of Mechanical Engineering 55(2009)6, 406-417

Fig. 7. FBCISs graphic user interface system [6]

Research by the STEP Tools Inc:
STEP Tools Inc. is a privately owned
small company which specializes in the field of
STEP-NC standard development and support.
They have developed a substantial amount of
software solutions that are used for testing and
using STEP-NC data model in the real life
applications. These software solutions are [10]:
- STEP-NC Write,
- ST-MACHINE,
- STEP-NC Explorer,
- ST- Developer.
The important fact is that this library is
issued under GNU General Public License (GPL)
and is therefore, freely available [10].
ST-Machine is a computer program which
is meant to be loaded to a machines control unit.
By using this program every machine can be
changed to a STEP-NC compliant machine [10].
STEP-NC Explorer is a computer program
which is used for reading and opening of the
STEP-NC files on the PC computers. Besides
opening STEP-NC files it can also convert NC

412

programs from Mastercam, Catia, Unigraphics

NX and Pro Engineer to STEP-NC [10].
ST-developer is a suite of software
development tools. It offers these options [10]:
- DLL libraries for reading, writing and
manipulating the STEP-NC files,
- it includes ST-Viewer for STEP-NC files
viewing,
- Tools for opening AP-203, AP-209 and AP214 files.
Research at The Boeing Company:
Boeing manufactures a large number of
aircraft parts on many different 5-axis machine
tools. Currently all their NC programs are coded
in ISO 6983 NC code and are different from
machine to machine. Because different 5-axis
machines have different axis configurations this
means that their 5-axis NC programs can be
substantially different. If they want to change the
machining of a part from one machine to the
other, another postprocessing is required to get an
NC program for the specific machine tool.
Because the company is using STEP as a format

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Strojniki vestnik - Journal of Mechanical Engineering 55(2009)6, 406-417

for 3D model data exchange with great success

they have decided to run a pilot project of using
STEP-NC data format on several different
machine tools [4].
5.4 Research in South Korea
In South Korea there are two groups that
are working on the development of STEP-NC:
RL-SNT (National Research Laboratory for
STEP-NC Technology) in Pohang University of
Science
&
Technology
and
ERC-ACI

(Engineering Research Center for Advance

Control and Instrumentation) in Seoul National
University. NRL-SNT has been developing
STEP-NC compliant controls since 1997 and has
developed Korean STEP-NC system. Its main
component is a module for computer assisted NC
programming - Shop-Floor Programming (SFP)
(Fig. 8). As shown on this module can create
STEP-NC of both standardized types (ISO 14649
and ISO 10303-238) [4].

Fig. 8. Diagram of SFP module [4]

6 CURRENT SUPPORT FOR STEP-NC
THROUGH INDUSTRIAL STANDARDS
Currently there are two standards that
cover the field of STEP-NC: ISO 14649 and ISO
10303-238. Each of them covers its own portion
data exchange between different steps in product
development and manufacturing.

are needed to produce the geometry instead

of tool movement trajectory. These working
steps represent higher level geometry
elements combined with all the process
parameters needed in order to manufacture
them. NC controls become responsible for
translating these working steps into actual
tool movement.

6.1 ISO 14649

-

This standard became active in the years

2003-2005. Its main purpose is to replace the
ISO 6938 as the standard for NC program
data formatting. It is planned that in the
initial phases of standard implementation the
CNC machines would support both standards
[3]. Fig. 9 shows the initial phase of STEPNC implementation. The deficiencies of ISO
6938 are compensated by describing working
process with different working steps which

Fig. 9. The NC control can support both standard

(ISO 6938 and ISO 14649) [3]

STEP-NC: A New Programming Code for the CNC Machines

413

Strojniki vestnik - Journal of Mechanical Engineering 55(2009)6, 406-417

This data structure also allows using the

same STEP-NC program on any type of machine
without the use of postprocessors [3].
ISO 14649 data format is very different
from the old NC-code. It is well structured and
object oriented [3]. Its main elements are (Fig.
10):
- header,
- geometrical features of the part,
- technological
working
steps
for
manufacturing (each working step is
composed by many feature/technology
operations).

#21=Hole(Tap M6,,,,,,,,,,,);

geometry feature #21

#22=Drilling(#..(Tool),,,#..(Tec technological
hnology),#..;
parameters #22
.
#35= WorkStep2 (......);

WorkStep1

END-ISO-10303-21;

End of program

6.2 ISO 10303-238

This standard was officially released on
30. 4. 2007 as ISO 10303-238:2007. Its main
difference compared to ISO 14649 is that this
data model also includes a 3D CAD model of the
product. It is basically an upgrade of an ISO
14649 standard. The Table 4 clearly shows that a
large portion of AP238s data structure
implementation was copied from previously
released ISO 14649 [5].
Table 4. Origins of different elements of ISO
10303-238 data model [8]
Element of AP238 data
Element origin
model
Part 3D geometry
Dimensions and tolerances

Fig. 10. Graphical overview of ISO 14649 data

organization [13]
Table 3 shows how all the data in the file are
written in plain text using special coding [2].
Table 3. A simple example of ISO 14649 data
structure [2]
ISO 14694 data format

Explanation

Header
1=Project(WorkPlan#10);

Select Workkplan at
#10

#10=WorkPlan(#20,#35,#71,.... Workplan is consisted

.);
of: WorkStep1 at #20,
WorkStep2 at #35,
.
#20=WorkStep1(,#21(Feature), WorkStep1:
#22(Manufacturing))
manufacture geometry
feature
#21
using
technological
parameters #22

414

All
STEP
application
protocols share the same
data model
STEP GT&D

Measures
Project data
Stock data
Geometry features
Working steps sequence
Toolpaths

ISO 14649 Part10

Milling operations
Milling tools

ISO 14649 Part11

ISO 14649 Part111

Lathe operations
Lathe tools

ISO 14649 Part12

ISO 14649 Part121

The data model of AP238 is structured

into three main parts [10]:
- part 3D representation,
- working plan for manufacturing,
- technological parameters for manufacturing.
A part 3D representation uses the same
data model as other STEP application models. A
3D Part is described by using ISO 10303 standard
data model, also all the information about owners
and creation dates are included. This data can be

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Strojniki vestnik - Journal of Mechanical Engineering 55(2009)6, 406-417

created by any STEP compatible CAD program

[5].
Besides the 3D representation the standard
foresees that the part is assembled by using
interconnected features [11]. Each feature is a
distinct geometric shape of a special type: 2.5D
element (hole, pocket, groove), transitional
element (radius, chamfer), and element of
repeating (mirror, copy), region element (3D
surfaces), lathe element (grooves) and others.
Some of 2.5D features are shown on the Fig. 11.
Working plan for manufacturing is the heart of
the AP238 application protocol. It contains
information about manufacturing steps which is

needed to manufacture the part. Fig. 12 shows

the plan, which is divided into several working
steps. They are instructions that designate which
strategies and parameters are used to manufacture
each feature [10].
7 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ISO 14649 AND
ISO 10303-238
ISO has issued two STEP-NC standards. Each of
them has its strengths as its disadvantages. The
main difference is the level of integration of the
STEP architecture. The comparison is shown in
Table 5 [4].

Fig. 11. A part with 2.5D features [8]

Fig. 12. Manufacturing working plan [4]

STEP-NC: A New Programming Code for the CNC Machines

415

Strojniki vestnik - Journal of Mechanical Engineering 55(2009)6, 406-417

Table 5. Comparison between ISO 14649 and ISO

10303-238 [4]
Comparison criteria

ISO 14649

File size

10-times
10-times bigger
smaller
than
than ISO 14649
ISO 10303-238

Difficulty for
programming

Easy

Complicated

Is the file readable?

Very hard

Impossible

STEP compatibility

Partially

Fully

Data consistency

Original
Original geometry
geometry data
data remains
is lost

ISO 10303-238

STEP-NC includes information about

manufacturing process on a much higher
level than G-code. This allows for seamless
feedback from NC machine to the CAD and
CAM.
STEP-NC allows the transfer of data about
actual manufacturing parameters back to the
process of design and process planning. This
allows the implementation of the design-formanufacturing.

8.2 Tool modelling

ISO 14649 in ISO 10303-238 can be used

as two different methods for the implementation
of STEP standard into manufacturing. ISO 14649
is intended for applications where CAM software
has total access to all the data from the
production, whereas STEP AP-238 is intended for
total integration of CAD, CAM and
manufacturing. Even though STEP AP238 is
more
advanced
this
means
that
the
implementation is much more complex and that it
will take much longer for its practical realization
[4].
8 CHALENGES FOR FUTURE RESEARCH
STEP-NC is still not developed enough to
be used in real engineering practice. The data
model is still showing some deficiencies, which
will have to be resolved before the standard can
be globally accepted [4].
8.1 Feedback to Previous Steps in Product
Development
Improvement of data feedback from
current step to all the previous steps of the
product lifecycle is one of the best solutions to
improve product quality, shorten the production
time and lower the production costs. Currently a
global use of G-code format is very convenient
from the aspect of creating NC programs for the
CNC machines but it is quite useless when we
want the feedback from production to the
previous steps of a product lifecycle. STEP-NC is
big step forward because of several reasons [4]:
416

Currently STEP-NC does not allow the

tool compensation as G-code with G41 and G42
does. If the tool radius is minimally changed, the
toolpath must be calculated again. For this
standard to be widely accepted it will have to
allow small changes in tool geometry without the
need of toolpath recalculation [4].
8.3 Tolerances
Tolerances are the basic principle by
which the interchangeability and functionality of
the products can be guaranteed. In addition, they
have an extremely important influence on the
production by the production costs and
productivity point of view. If we want the STEPNC to become a globally accepted standard it
must also support the information about
tolerances of the part manufacturing. To this
moment the STEP-NC has not yet solved this
issue suitably.
The main issue of integration of tolerances
into the data model is their double role in the part
representation. When used in assembly the
tolerances are connected to the part sizes and are
therefore, called construction tolerances. In
manufacturing other types of tolerances are used
and they are called production tolerances. Often
these are not equal to the construction tolerances.
Clearly
shows
the
difference
between
construction and production tolerances. [4].
9 CONCLUSION
STEP-NC is currently an internationally
supported industrial standard for data exchange in
the process of product design and manufacturing.
Before it will actually be accepted in real life it

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Strojniki vestnik - Journal of Mechanical Engineering 55(2009)6, 406-417

will take some more time. I believe the reasons

for this are as follows:
- ISO 6938 standard is well established and
widely used. Its main advantage is great
simplicity. For some applications it is easier
to use ISO 6983 than STEP-NC,
- STEP-NC is still not developed enough and it
still lacks some features that are inevitable in
the manufacturing process,
- CNC machines and controls producers have
not sent to the market any product that would
be STEP-NC compliant, therefore, the users
have not even started to think there is any
other way than ISO 6938.
Even though the STEP-NC is not used yet
in real worlds applications at all it is a step in the
right direction. TCP/IP standard is a clear
example what standardization can bring to the
industrial field. All the hardware and software in
the billions of products exchange data all over the
world without any problems. The reason for this
is the standardization of data exchange protocols.
The process of product lifetime management
really needs the same kind of standardization. It
will bring the world together, minimize design
and manufacturing costs and make the process
easier to manage.

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]
[9]

[10]

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Kramer, T.R.,
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